State legislatures face tough decisions on long-term care, abortion rules, pain prescriptions, coordinated care

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Limits On State's Family Care Program Draw Critics
Cost-saving measures proposed by Gov. Scott Walker's administration to Family Care programs for frail elderly and people with disabilities are coming under fire ... [County Executive Chris Abele] said the county didn't have the staff to do "intensive prevention efforts" envisioned by the state reform ideas. ... The state's proposed sustainability modifications to the program include an emphasis on shifting clients from publicly financed help to "natural supports" - meaning a greater reliance on family members for care (Schultze, 2/9).

The Des Moines Register:  Senate OKs Bill Allowing Resumption Of Care Facility Inspections
Iowa would legally resume periodic inspections at care facilities for the disabled under a bill that unanimously passed the Senate on Thursday. Lawmakers in 2010 removed the oversight designed to protect the nearly 4,600 disabled Iowans who live in the state's 188 residential care facilities as a cost-cutting move. They imposed a one-year moratorium on the routine inspection of those facilities (Clayworth, 2/10).

The Kansas City Star: Kansas Abortion Hearing Gets Testy
A Kansas abortion debate turned nasty Thursday when the leader of a women's group pulled out a rubber stamp and accused a House panel of routinely approving bills restricting the procedure. One lawmaker walked out in protest. The committee was concluding two days of hearings on new abortion restrictions ... At issue was a proposal that would require physicians to use handheld Doppler fetal monitors so pregnant women could hear the heartbeat of the unborn (Cooper, 2/9).

The Seattle Times: Doctors Want To Amend New Rules on Prescribing Pain Medications
Tougher state rules for prescribing pain medication -; aimed at curbing abuse -; are prompting some providers to abandon patients and avoid treating pain, patients and doctors told state lawmakers Thursday. ... The [Washington state Medical Association], with support of the Washington Osteopathic Medical Association, has formally asked the state's licensing authorities to amend the rules, which took effect last month (Ostrom, 2/9).

The Lund Report: Transformation Bill Headed for First Major Test in Joint Ways and Means Committee
After hours of discussions and countless meetings behind closed doors, legislators appear to have finished negotiating what might be the final version of Senate Bill 1580, which, if approved, would allow the Oregon Health Authority to begin soliciting proposals for coordinated care organizations (CCOs). ... Coordinated care organizations represent the backbone of the transformational reforms being to the Oregon Health Plan's delivery system (Waldroupe, 2/9).